Grounding clamp



H. O. WOOLSON GROUNDI'NG CLAMP June 7, 1932.

Filed Aug. 27, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HOW (M5072 A llomey H. O. WOOLSON GROUNDING CLAMP June 7, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1950 Inventor HOWooZ son By Allomey Patented June 7, 1932 PATENT ()FFICE HARRY 0. WOOLSON, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA GROUNDIN G CLAMP Application filed August 27, 1930.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in grounding clamps, or that type of clamp used for connecting a ground Wire with the main conductor in electrical work.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a clamp of the character above mentioned capable of making a quick and firm contact with the conductor when applied.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this character equipped with a handle which may be arranged at various angular positions relative to the clamp.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this character which is self alining.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this character wherein the ground or earth connection may be attached to the back of the clamp in such a manner as not to interfere with the operation of applying the clamp to the conductor.

A still further and very important object of the invention is to provide a clamp equipped with means for securing the ground wire thereto in sucha manner as to relieve stress on the strands of the ground wire due to lateral motion and which at the same time will afford a maximum contact between the clamp and ground wire.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during a study of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improved clamp,

Figure 2 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation taken through the clamp, the handle being removed,

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the clamp,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the fixed jaw,

Figure 5 is a plan view of a movable jaw,

Figure 6 is a front elevational view thereof,

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the upper or jaw carrying part of the clamp,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional elevational Serial No. 478,224.

view clearly illustrating the slots in the head and fixed aw of the clamp.

With reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved clamp comprises a relatively elongated shank 1 that at its lower end is provided with an axial internally threaded socket 2. The socket 2 is adapted to threadedly receive the threaded pin 3 on one end of a suitable handle 4. Thus it will be seen that the handle 4 may be secured to the shank in longitudinal alinement with the shank. However, if desired the handle 4 may be arranged at substantially right angles to the shank, the said shank being further provided with a transversely extending internally threaded bore or hole 5 extending therethrough for accommodating the pin 3 of the handle.

At its upper or free end, the shank 1 terminates in an upwardly and laterally offset head 6. The head 6 at its upper free end has integral therewith a longitudinally tapering fixed jaw 7 that extends substantially at right angles to the offset head 6 and substantially obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank.

The head 6 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 8 opening outwardly of the head at the top and rear of the head. The fixed jaw 7 is likewise provided with a plurality of spaced slots 9, there being one slot 9 for each of the slots 8 and the slots 9 forming a continuation of the slots 8.

Pivotally mounted on the head 6 for cooperation with the jaw 7 is a movable jaw, and this movable aw comprises a plurality of identical jaw members designated generally by the reference character 10.

Each of the jaw members 10 comprise a plate like body portion 11 operable within a slot 8, and pivoted within the slot 8 adjacent the upper end of the head, there being a common pivot pin 12 extending through the head and the plate like body portion 11 of the jaw members 10.

The plate 11 is somewhat disk shaped and is provided with a notch 13, substantially L- shaped whereby to provide at the lower end of the plate a longitudinally curved or arcuate gripping portion 14. The gripping portion 14: of the respective jaw members 10 are adapted to extend inwardly of the slots 9 of the fixed jaw 7 when the said fixed and movable jaws are in clamping relation relative to one another for clamping therebetween the main conductor cable A (see Figure 1).

The body portions 11 of the jaw members remote from the ends of the gripping portions 1 1 are provided with integral radial lugs 15. A pin or rod 16 extends through the lugs 15 transversely with respect to the head 6.

The movable jaw is cont-rolled through the medium of a pair of relatively long coil springs 17. The springs 17 are arranged one to each side of the shank 1 and at their lower ends are suitably anchored to ears or lugs 18 that project laterally from the shank in opposite directions. At their upper ends the springs 17 are suitably secured to the adjacent ends of the pin or rod 16.

It will be noted that the lugs 18 are disposed adjacent the front or forward face of the pivot 12.

The operation of the device as so far de scribed is thought apparent; normally, the jaws in open position are so disposed relative to one another that the gripping portions 1 1 of the jaw members 11 of the movable jaw are arranged within the lower ends of the slots 8, said slots 8 at their lower ends being inclined, to extend obliquely with respect to the shank as at 19. The jaw portions 14 being in such position, it will be apparent that the straight edges 20 of the jaw members 10 will extend below the lower edge of the head 6. The device is adapted to be applied to the main conductor somewhat in a manner similar to securing a hook on an object similar to a conductor that is to say the head 6 and fixed jaw 7 are so relatively disposed as to simulate a hook.

The clamp being in this manner initially engaged with the main conductor it will be seen that the main conductor will first strike the straight edges 20 of the jaw members 10 thus exerting, as it were an upward push on the jaw members 10 for initially swinging the same about their pivot 12, or in a direction counter clockwise as suggested in Fig. 2, the continued rotation of the jaws 10 about their pivot 12 being then obtained through the medium of the spring 17 which is shifted, upon the initial rotation of the movable jaw, from a position to the right of the pivot 12 to a position to the left of said pivot, for subsequently exerting a pull on the movable jaw, so that with the cable clamped between the jaws the parts are in the position shown in. Figure 1..

As shown in Figure 1, when the aw members 10 are engaged with the conductor A for clamping the latter between the jaw members 10 and the fixed jaw 7, the pin 16 will be slightly spaced from the shoulder 1a of the shank 1, with the result that the movement of the jaw members 10 to a clamp ing position will be arrested only by engagement of the jaw members 10 with the conductor A thus the aw members 10 will be, when in a clamping position, normally retained under tension through the medium of the spring 17.

For securing the end E of the ground conductor B to the clamp, there is provided a threaded bolt or shank 21 that extends rearwardly of the shank 1. One end of the bolt 21 is threaded into the shank below the head 6 as at 22. The free end portion of the bolt 21 may extend through the end E of the ground conductor B and a suitable nut 23 is threaded on said free end of the bolt 21 for securing the end E in position on the clamp. The ground terminal further includes a slightly offset conical body E for accommodating a portion of the ground wire, and said body portion is formed on one side thereof with a slot S.

From the foregoing then it will be seen that I have provided a ground clamp which may be readily and easily placed in clamping engagement with the main conductor, and to which clamp, the end of the ground conductor may be also readily secured and in such a manner as not to interfere with the operation of applying the clamp to the conductor and at the same time permitting of a securing of the ground conductor to the clamp as to relieve stress on the strands of the ground wire as is occasioned by lateral motion. Furthermore, as has been herein pointed out, the handle 4 for the clamp may be secured to the clamp at any desired angular relation with respect to the clamp. A clamp constructed according to the present invention is also thought moreover to afford maximum safety and to thereby provide improvements on clamps now available for this character of work.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible to changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A ground clamp comprising a shank having an offset head at one end thereof, said head at its free end merging into an angularly disposed fixed jaw, said head and said jaw provided with a plurality of slots. a movable comprising a plurality of jaw members pivotally mounted in the slots of said head, said jaw members including. gripping portions adapted for movement through the slots in said fixed jaw for movement into and out of clamping relation with said fixed jaw.

2. A ground clamp comprising a shank having an offset head at one end thereof, said head at its free end merging into an angularly disposed fixed jaw, said head and said jaw being provided with a plurality of slots, a movable aw comprising a plurality of jaw members mounted on a pivot in the slots of said head, said jaw members including gripping portions adapted for movement into and out of clamping relation with said fixed jaw through the slots in said fixed jaw, a rod connecting said jaw members whereby said jaw members may be rotated about said pivot simultaneously, and spring means engaging said rod and said shank for normally retaining said jaw members in gripping relation with said fixed jaw, and means for securing a ground wire to said shank on the side of the shank opposite to said jaws.

3. A ground clamp comprising in combination a shank provided at one end with a fixed head projecting laterally therefrom and ex tending substantially obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank, said fixed jaw being provided with a plurality of slots, a movable jaw comprising a plurality of jaw members mounted on a pivot in said slots and connected one with the other for simultaneous movement through said slots and into and out of clamping relation with respect to said fixed jaw, means for connecting one end of a ground wire to the shank, a handle for said shank, said handle and said shank provided with cooperating means whereby said handle may be connected to said shank in a selected one of several positions relative to said shank.

4. A device of the character described comprising in combination a head a jaw integral therewith and projecting therefrom substantially at right angles to said head. said head being provided with a plurality of slots, and said fixed jaw being provided with a plurality of slots forming continuations of the first mentioned slots, a movable jaw comprising a plurality of jaw members mounted on a pivot in each of the slots of said head, each of said pivoted jaw members having one end portion thereof normally disposed in a slot of said fixed jaw, and a second end portion thereof normally disposed in a slot of said head, said second end portion of each pivoted jaw mem her being movable into the said one slot of said fixed jaw when said pivoted jaw is rotated in one direction for movement into clamping relation with said fixed jaw, and spring means operable to retain the pivoted jaw members of said movable jaw into and out of gripping relation with respect to said fixed jaw.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY O. WOOLSON. 

